Ambubachi Mela, also known as Ambubasi festival, is held annually during monsoon in the KamakhyaDeviTemple at Guwahati, Assam. In 2018, the beginning date of Ambubachi Mela is June 22 and the festival ends on June 25. The temple reopens on June 25, 2018. The fair comes to an end on June 26. The Ambubachi festival is related to the Tantric cult and is also known as Kamkhya Devi Puja. It is believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her menstrual cycle during these days and therefore the temple remains closed for three days (June 22, 23 and June 24). The festival celebrates the harmony between the reproductive female body and the cycles of nature.

Ambubachi Mela is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival and is a four-day mela (fair). It is closely associated with the Tantric Shakti cult prevalent in eastern parts of India and is famous due to the assembling of Tantric Sadhus from India and abroad. Some of these Tantric Babas appear before public only during these four days.

The Tantric Sanyasins also attract the media and foreigners. And Tantric Babas performing numerous unique rituals and exercises are photographed and published in magazines and newspapers around the world. Tantrics, aghoris and sadhus perform havan, rituals, sing and dance during the period. Devotees come from far off places to meet the Tantric Sadhus and take their blessings. Apart from this, the festival is noted for its rural craft fair.

It is widely believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her yearly menstrual cycle during the Ambubachi days. The temple remains closed for three days – the menstruation period.

People in large numbers wait outside the temple on the fourth day, when the temple will be opened. Sanyasins and Pandas from around the country assemble at the Kamakhya temple during this period.

Many temples in the region remain closed during the three days. Ploughing fields or cutting earth is forbidden during these three days.

Large number of devotees make a mad rush when the temple reopens to receive the unique ‘prasad’ which is small bits of cloth, which is supposedly moist with the menstrual fluid of Goddess Kamakhya. It is considered highly auspicious and powerful.

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Nearly a million devotees visit the temple during the annual four-day fair.

Naga Sadhus (naked babas) take part in the rituals. But, they won't be allowed to mingle with devotees and move around in the main venue. A separate zone is arranged for them in the western part of the temple in the Abhayananda Ashram.

There will be no procession of Naga Sadhus this year.

The annual fair attracts devotees from all parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Thousands of foreigners including researchers take part in the mela.

Five camps are set up for devotees at Naharbari, Bangshibagan,
Abhayananda Ashram, Siddheswari temple and Kamakhya Higher Secondary
School.

The entire Nilachal Hills, on which the Kamakhya Temple and a series of
other temples are located, has been declared a no-tobacco zone.

Use of plastic, polythene and other non-biodegradable items have been restricted in the entire Nilachal Hills.

Over two hundred thousand people will be provided free meals twice a day.